1988 325 automatic - anything to get more power?

[Sean0629]

First, thanks to all who have responded to my earlier posts. The help has been great!

My 1988 325 has 238,000 miles on it. It is also an automatic (second strike against it). I have two questions: 1) Is it worth putting money into having such high mileage on it. and 2) if it is worth putting some money into, is there anything I can do to get some more power, preferably without signing all my future earnings away?

 

[325eowner]

from everything i've read it seems like getting a chip for the ECU is the most economical way to go for adding a little power. they go from like 50 bucks on ebay to around $250. i hear the turner motorsports ones and the dinan chips are good, but i've also heard good things about the ebay chips. i'm thinking of going the chip route myself soon, in my 87 325e (5 spd) with 260,000 + miles on it. apparently you have to switch to premium gas with a chip but i guess i can live with that for awhile. and the beauty is that you can always put the OEM chip back in later if you want.

and yes putting a little money in the car is fine if it's in decent shape. even at the mileage mine is at it still runs great, idles quietly, starts every time. these cars will last a good long time if maintained.

 

[Sean0629]

will i notice much difference being as my car is an automatic?

 

[Ben]

at that milage you might get the most power by doing an engine overhaul.... but otherwise go for the chip.
ben

 

[325eowner]

you should notice gains even with your automatic from what i've heard. basically the chip increases the HP and torque over supposedly the whole powerband, though the highest gains are at the peak rpms. our "E" cars are supposed to really respond well to chips, compared to say the "I" which i've heard doesnt see much gain. take a look at ebay under "e30 chip" or something like that and you'll see several usually, they're on there a lot.

 

[junglestylz]

Stick with Jim! Conforti has been doing this one task for so long he has absolutely mastered the art of EPROM manipulation. If you get a cheap chip that is not programmed correctly, it can do massive amounts of damage to bothe the engine, and the ECU.

 

[rjp325i]

The Jim Conforti chip is available from Turner Motorsport in Amesbury, MA for $199. They have an ad advertising that price. The Conforti chip as opposed to a Dinan chip and others, extracts slightly more power thruout the useful power range because it remaps the full power curve not just at full throttle opening. The chip is easily replaced and comes with the needed encriptor board and instructions. The chip for an "e" yields a 24 hp gain at 4700 rpm and a torque increase of 28 at 4500 rpm. The 'i" gets 16 hp at 5000 rpm and a torque increase of 15 from a Conforti chip. Most of the other chips advertise the same gross increases but other than the Conforti chips most if not all do not help at partial throttle openings. I have a 1989 325i with automatic and yes I can feel the difference but best of all the engine runs smoother with no flat spots. As a bonus you can expect better mileage although you'll be fueling up with premium. After doing research and consulting with other BMW car club members I went with the Conforti chip. There is more to chip upgrade than advancing the spark and moving up the rpm limiter. You want the entire curve remapped for efficiency. After installing the chip my emissions test revealed results better than new. Incidently the Conforti chip is waranteed for life. Turner also for $349 can reprogram newer 3s up thru and including 2003s which was just announced. When it comes to BMW engine mapping no one knows these engines like Jim Conforti. By the way its the suspension mods that add up the dollars even when you do most of the work yourself.